Christ Community Church’s Advent Resources
This legal-sized document is available as a free .pdf file at cccbham.org/advent. See that page for live links to downloading or ordering info on each of the resources. If you have any trouble with the links below or ideas of other resources we can add to our list, contact the church at . All prices are from Nov 2015. Pricing subject to change.
Devotionals (some are whole-family or teen-friendly) ____
Good News of Great Joy (free Advent e-book or in print for a fee) – FREE or $5
By John Piper
These short, daily devotional readings correspond to readings presented in Solid Joy, Desiring God’s free devotional app (available on iTunes or Google Play). The readings use a portion of Scripture to reflect upon the meaning and impact the coming of Christ has on us and the world. The books begins Dec 1, as it was complied in 2012, but it can be adapted to fit the Advent season for any year. This book is also available in print format for a fee from local bookstores or Amazon.com. This resource could be used with mature kids and teens.
The Dawning of Indescribable Joy: Daily Readings for Advent (paperback) - $8
By John Piper
These 25 brief devotional readings from John Piper begin on December 1 and carry you to Christmas Day. These meditations are designed to deepen and sweeten your adoration of Jesus and help you keep him at the center of your Christmas season. This resource could be used with mature kids and teens.
Advent Devotions (free .pdf file) - FREE
by Jerram Barrs, Professor at Covenant Theological Seminary
Originally published in Covenant, the magazine of Covenant Theological Seminary, this collection of daily Scripture readings follows the story of the promised Messiah beginning in the Old Testament and culminating in the birth of Christ. This resource could easily be used with kids and teens, although it is not as engaging for kids as other resources.
Paul David Tripp’s Advent Devotional (free online readings, video, and audio) - FREE
This once-a-week devotional contains a reading, a video, and a sermon for each Sunday in Advent. Tripp suggests using these materials with the whole family, although this may be best suited for older children and youth. Whether you move through the content alone or with a spouse or kids, all materials are free and useful in understanding the eternal impact of Christ’s Advent. This resource would be engaging for mature kids and teens as it uses audio and video files to teach content.
Advent Meditations (free online document) – FREE
By Redeemer PCA in NYC
This free online resource is from 2014, but it easily adapts to any year. The devotional contains daily personal readings, weekly reflections, and discussion questions for personal or whole family discussion. The daily content is best suited to older kids or teens, but the weekly group & family discussion questions contain adaptations for small children, including lists of corresponding stories from the Jesus Storybook Bible.
The Greatest Gift: Unwrapping the Full Love Story of Christmas (hardcover & Kindle versions available) - $12 to $8
By Ann Voskamp
Beginning with Jesse, the father of David, this book follows the lineage of Christ from Old Testament to New with a Scripture reading & reflection for each day. The book also walks readers through the tradition of the “Jesse Tree,” featuring free downloadable ornaments for each day on the author’s website, annvoskamp.com. While this book could be used for mature kids and teens, see the companion book in the next section for already-adapted content for kids.
God is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas (paperback, kindle & free on Audible) - $11, $8, or FREE
By Dietrich Bonhoeffer
This book contains forty devotions that guide and inspire readers as they move thematically through the weeks of Advent and Christmas, from waiting and mystery to redemption, incarnation, and joy. Supplemented by an informative introduction, short excerpts from Bonhoeffer's letters, and passages from his Christmas sermons, these daily devotions are timeless and moving reminders of the true gift of Christmas. This book is somewhat linguistically and theologically heavy; it’s best to use this with mature teens and adults.
World Advent Calendar (free online at cccbham.org/advent)
This collection of verses helps you and your family understand God’s passion for the nations based on His Word.
Gifts of God Verses for Advent (free online at cccbham.org/advent)
This collection of 25 verses helps you and your family understand and recognize the gifts we have in Christ as explained in Scripture.
Devotionals for Leading Kids (Preschool to Upper Elementary) through Advent
Good News of Great Joy: An Advent Devotional (paperback) - $5 from CCC
By Beth Meyers & Betty Ann Snider
This family devotional booklet is likely most appropriate for preschool to 5th grade, and it can be used in a variety of ways. It contains Scripture, a lesson, questions, a craft, and a hymn to sing each day along with weekly memory verses. This daily devotional starts on the first Sunday of Advent and ends on Christmas Eve.
Baby Steps to Celebrating Advent: 9 Brilliant Ideas for the Wee Ones! (free at cccbham.org/advent)
Compiled by Susan Cunningham
This highly practical list is a collection of fun ideas from the Internet. This list will be especially helpful to tired, stressed mommas who just don’t have time or money to put together very much for the kiddos, yet really want to start some Jesus-centered traditions.
Jesus’ Family Tree Advent Family Devotions: The Story of Redemption (paper binding) - $29
In this book, Advent is expanded into 32 lessons to cover the entire Advent season. These colorful lessons are designed to be used for daily family devotions during Advent – from the last Sunday in November through Christmas Day. A coloring book is also available separately.
Jesus’ Family Tree Coloring Book (paperback) - $3
This coloring book has been developed depicting the Scripture stories of the Advent of Christ. This is the accompanying coloring book for Jesus’ Family Tree Advent Family Devotions (see above). This coloring book would be ideal for preschool to elementary ages.
Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas (paperback) - $18
By Ann Voskamp
Ann Voskamp has expanded her presentation of the timeless Advent tradition of the Jesse Tree so that families can celebrate together. Each day families can read the provided Scripture passage (in connection with the original book, The Greatest Gift), engage with a specially written devotion to help children of all ages understand the Advent theme for the day, and participate in suggested activities to apply the theme. The ornaments for your family’s Jesse tree are available on Ann’s website at annvoskamp.com. This is the companion book to The Greatest Gift.
We Light the Candles: Devotions Related to Family Use of the Advent Wreath (paperback) - $6
By Catharine Brandt
Originally published in 1946, this delightful vintage book contains daily readings for Advent to do with your family. The readings are scripted and contain read-aloud devotions and prayers. The book also includes a thorough explanation of the symbolism of the wreath and candles. If you’re just doing a wreath, this is a book to consider! And, bonus: your parents may have used this one.
Welcome Baby Jesus: Advent and Christmas Reflections for Families (paperback & Kindle editions) - $2 or $1
By Sarah Reinhard
This sweet family book contains daily Scripture reading, short devotions, a short prayer & reflection questions that are preschool-to-early elementary appropriate. Each Sunday, this book also highlights the Advent wreath candle color & symbolism. The book doesn’t have a craft to do, but this is a pretty thorough book for a daily devotional time.
Jesus is Most Special (hardback) - $5
By Sally Micael
Author Sally Micael was Children’s Minister at Bethlehem Baptist Church (John Piper’s church) for 16 years, and she cofounded Children Desiring God. She’s written her fair share of children’s Sunday School curriculum. This book helps kids understand the story and memorize the Scripture related to Advent. She uses Old & New Testament stories to engage kids. The website suggests using your own nativity set to supplement the lessons in this book. Appropriate for preschool to elementary aged kids.
Journey to the Manger Advent Calendar (paperback) - $8 online, but Caroline has the .pdf files that were available as free downloads last year. Email her, and she’ll send you those files a gratis.
By Thriving Family (Focus on the Family’s magazine)
This adorably illustrated material is appropriate for preschool to school-aged kiddos. Each day you read about a different character related to the story of Christ’s birth, starting with God the Father, King David, some Old Testament prophets who wrote about the coming Messiah, and ending with the babe Himself! The poster is adorable. Each ‘character’ fits on the poster, so kids have fun with that puzzle aspect of the poster. Also, there is a short devotional reading and Scripture for each day and optional enrichment worksheets (most require 1st grade level of reading or higher, but some are adaptable for non-readers). Very cute set!
Tales of Christmas Past 2015 Advent Calendar: Inspiring True Stories of the Season (free online for Nov – Dec 2015)
By Thriving Family (Focus on the Family’s magazine)
Each year Focus on the Family makes one, incredible advent resource available for free online. This year, they’ve chosen this collection of 25 stories related to Advent. You can print a poster from the online link. Each stories corresponds to an image on the poster, so kids are engaged with a seek-and-find activity with the poster. In addition to the short daily stories and devotionals, you can print small booklets for young readers (or colorers) to engage more fully with each short story.
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Last updated 11.10.16 by Caroline ()